The History Of Man

Some claim we began like this!

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

GENESIS 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

On the sixth day, God created all of the animals, and last of all he created man and woman. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” … (Genesis 1:27).

“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed” … (Genesis 2:8).

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” … (Genesis 2:16-17). The FIRST law of God was given to man.

GENESIS 3:8 “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden …” God had fellowship with man.

SATAN LIED TO EVE “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” … (Genesis 3:4-5).

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” … (Genesis 3:6). They broke God’s law!

THEIR CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WAS BROKEN! “And they heard the voice of the LORD God … and Adam and his wife hid themselves …”, (Genesis 3:8). GODMAN SIN

ISAIAH 59:1-2 tells us that SIN separates man from God. “Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Adam’s SIN separated him from God! His FELLOWSHIP with God was BROKEN!

Adam and Eve learned the results of their SIN. GENESIS 3:16-19 and 23 Separated form God. Cast out of the garden. Ground cursed. Thorns and thistles. Toil and sweat. Multiply pain in childbirth. Physical death.

PHYSICAL DEATH occurs when the SPIRIT is separated from the BODY. “For as the body without the spirit is dead …”, (James 2:26). SEPARATED

SPIRITUAL DEATH occurs when man is SEPARATED from God by his own sin. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” … (Isaiah 59:2). SEPARATED

Like Adam and Eve, all people begin life in FELLOWSHIP with God! MATTHEW 18:3 “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”

CHILDREN are not accountable for sin. “Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it” … (Deuteronomy 1:39). “… Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”, (Matthew 18:3). “… Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven”, (Matthew 19:14).

ROMANS 3:23………… “ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Children are innocent, not knowing good and evil. Children are like those in the kingdom of heaven. When they learn to tell between good and evil, and choose evil, they then become sinners, and their sin separates them from God. When anyone sins, a way is needed to restore their fellowship with God.

Though man deserves death, God made a way to restore FELLOWSHIP with man. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” … (II Peter 3:9). “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” … (I Timothy 2:4). God made this plan before the foundation of the world.

We begin to see God’s PLAN to restore man to Himself in the promises made to Abraham … “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” … (Genesis 12:3). “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” … (Genesis 22:18).

More about God’s PLAN to restore man to Himself was revealed in the Law of Moses … “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” … (Galatians 3:24). The Law of Moses was given to teach about: Sin Obedience Sacrifices Forgiveness Righteousness

God continued to reveal His PLAN to restore FELLOWSHIP with man through the prophets … “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was brusied for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his strips we are healed” … (Isaiah 53:12). Isaiah Jeremiah Daniel

JESUS came teaching, working miracles, and proving himself to be the Messiah … Jesus said, “… for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins”, (John 8:24). Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” … (John 5:39).

The Messiah was to DIE to intercede for man and restore man to fellowship with God … Prophecy “… he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors”, (Isaiah 53:12). Fulfilled “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father forgive them for they know not what they do …”, (Luke 23:33-34).

As God promised Abraham, Jesus died for ALL MEN … “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to raise from the dead the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” … (Luke 24:46-47).

Jesus fulfilled God’s plan, then ascended back to heaven … “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” … (John 14:2-3). “And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven” … (Luke 24:51).

There were many witnesses to Jesus’ RESURRECTION. I Corinthians 15:1-7 “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God” … (John 20:27-28).

We have seen what God has done to restore man to FELLOWSHIP. Now, what is man’s part in restoring that FELLOWSHIP? GRACEFAITH GOD’S PARTMAN’S PART Titus 2:10-11 Romans 5:6-8 Revelation 1:5 The gift of GRACE Romans 5:15 Mark 16:16 Romans 10:9-10 Acts 2:38 The obedience of FAITH Romans 1:5; 16:25 James 2:18 Galatians 2:20

The one who wishes to remain in FELLOWSHIP with God must continue to live in OBEDIENCE to Him! “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” … (Matthew 7:21). “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” … (Hebrews 5:8-9).

God has done HIS PART to bring about the forgiveness of your sins. Have you done YOUR PART? HAVE YOU:Believed in Jesus? Confessed Jesus? Repented of your sins? Been baptized for the remission of you sins? ARE YOU: Continuing to live an obedient life to God? JESUS SAID - “If you love me, keep my commandments” … (John 14:15).